Interesting discussion. “A pandemic of narcissism” is the correct term for the mass movement of these deluded cranks.

It is the same when unqualified celebrities give unsolicited medical advice. It is almost always bogus and unscientific, like Reiki or TCM. They take center stage and the illness being discussed becomes the sideline story.

I think their mindset is very similar to that of religious fundamentalists which are constructed upon years of confirmation bias and group polarization. No counter arguments will get a fair hearing because they already have their minds made up.

I know a Professor of ENT who told me that patients, especially in the last few years, tell him outright that he is wrong, that they know better or that they got different opinions from FB friends. He now asks them “So what are you doing in my surgery then”?

It is the same when unqualified celebrities give unsolicited medical advice. It is almost always bogus and unscientific, like Reiki or TCM. They take center stage and the illness being discussed becomes the sideline story.

We have a White House “celebrity” who is probably the prime national example of this infestation.

Yeah Reg…but for every 9,999 arguments with a stupid person you’ll slightly change the point of view of 1 person. I’d say a 0.01% success rate makes all those hours of arguing with stupid dip-shits worth it!

Maybe, but I no longer do. I will explain my points but leave it at that. I tend to no longer explain Scientific subjects to theists. I just ask them to justify their own beliefs (a deliberate Socratic approach). When they eventually can’t they might have some doubts they want to consider. Then I will give them other options to think about.

“I won’t wear a mask because Trump doesn’t”. Goodbye, I am no longer talking to you.